Coming into the Division III state tournament Friday, Feb. 14, at Tim’s Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, first-year Mingus Union High School head wrestling coach Tim McKeever had found the Marauders’ magic number in the record books: 50.
As in 50 years, 50 state wrestling champions for the Marauders since their first one was crowned in 1964.
“One of the team goals was to have two state champs for 50 champions in 50 years,” McKeever said. “We talked about it before the match.”
Senior 160-pounder Dylan Wilbur and junior 220-pounder Wyatt Midkiff were his prime contenders. Both had marched through the championship bracket to their title matches Saturday, Feb. 15, with relative ease.
Wilbur beat Rafael Estrada of Tucson Amphitheater High School 5-1 in the semifinals after scoring two technical falls in his first two rounds in less than five minutes combined. Midkiff, meanwhile, had scored three decisions by comfortable margins after receiving a bye in his opening round.
Only one wrestler in Midkiff’s weight class had won more games this season in Division III: Moon Valley High School junior Davion Grey [44-2]. Only one other wrestler in Wilbur’s division could match his win total: Seton Catholic junior Sergio Chavez [31-6].
Each was the one wrestler standing between Midkiff, Wilbur and a state title. By that loneliest number, both Grey and Chavez would defeat the Marauders wrestlers in their championship matches.
For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Feb. 19, issue of the Cottonwood Journal Extra.
